WG response to Jolly's Application

Grŵp yr Ysgrifennydd Parhaol

Permanent Secretary’s Group

Our ref: TO/JJ/10972/21

18 August 2021

Dear Mr Hughes

Thank you for your email to the Minister for Climate Change regarding your proposal for  a community farm at Cosmeston. Your query has been passed to Land Division for  reply.

As a division, it is our priority to effectively, efficiently and sustainably manage our  assets to optimise public value outcomes. We always endeavour to consider how  assets will be used to achieve the greatest public value. While we examine all possible  long term opportunities it is good management practice to seek a meanwhile use hence  the recent Farm Business Tenancy offer.

We accepted our external agent’s recommendation and you may be reassured to know  that the land will be occupied by a local farmer for agricultural purposes for at least the  next two years.

The asset in question is held by Land Division as part of a wider portfolio originally  acquired for its longer term development potential. Whilst your application (and that  from Social Farms and Gardens) aligns with key government priorities, we are yet to  explore all possible uses for the holding so cannot proceed with your suggestion at  present.

The Welsh Government is encouraged by the number of applications received and I  would comment that potential community led proposals will be given due consideration  as part of the wider master planning.

Thank you for your interest, it would be premature to enter into a dialogue with a single  party at this time but should the land become surplus and available we have noted your  interest.

Yours sincerely,

RICHARD BAKER

Deputy Director, Land Division